We got back in the swing of things in the NBA on Wednesday night. That was only two games, though. So Thursday gives us a meaty, juicy 11-game slate to digest. With this many games, there will be a ton of value options, so picking the right one could make or break your lineup.
That being said, it is a great time to give you some value plays for your DFS contest. Unlike NFL DFS, where one pick can make or break your lineup or it’s tough to find quality low-tier value.
In NBA DFS, you can find quality value plays under $5K that can give you a quick 10 points off the bench, grab some rebounds, or stuff the stat sheet. It does not matter if you are playing a 50/50 or Double Up contest, we are going to provide you with three players that you need to put in your lineup.
Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat ($5,100)
This article usually has players at or under $5K on DraftKings. I’m switching things up to make an exception for Kelly O. The Heat won’t have Bam Adebayo, so the team could go small ball for most of Thursday night vs. the Orlando Magic. Olynyk can do a lot of the things Bam does, including pass the ball out of the post. In 36 minutes in the game prior to the break, Olynyk posted 45 DKFP on 18-10-7. If we get that type of stat line in a good matchup, Olynyk could be one of the top values on the slate.
There’s too much value below $4K to not do a “Stars and Scrubs” type of build for cash games tonight. Bembry should end up starting with the Raps down Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby again. Terence Davis is also questionable, so if he’s ruled out the bench gets thinner. Most of the production and scoring will go to Norman Powell and Chris Boucher. Bembry can chip in a few rebounds and assists. At this price, he’s a potential starter who could see over 30 minutes in a good matchup.
The Timberwolves are awful. There’s no real dispute there. Layman got a few starts prior to the All-Star Break, playing at least 26 minutes in each game. At near min-price, Layman was able to get over 20 DKFP in each contest. If we can project Layman to start — or even get around 20-25 minutes — at this price he should be able to return similar type of value. The New Orleans Pelicans aren’t a great defensive team. The only concern I’d have with Layman is foul trouble if he’s matched up a bit against Zion Williamson.